‘They are all playing and I can’t even run’

"I'm not willing to talk any more about football. Football has ruined my life," said a dejected Chathuima Marma after this reporter finally managed to contact her on phone last Thursday.

It was as late as 10:40 pm after Chathuima returned from a hard day at work and vented out her deep-rooted frustrations. The 19-year-old was an age-level national football player, who played with the likes of Rupna Chakma, Ritu Porna Chakma, Anuching Mogini and Anai Mogini – the household names in the country after the women's national team clinched the prestigious SAFF Championship title in September.

"They are my friends. We played together at the Mogachari primary school, Ghagra high school and later at the national level. They are all playing and I cannot even run. This is hurting me every second," said Chathuima, who had won the golden boot in the 2012 Bangamata Gold Cup Tournament when her Ghagra high school became runners-up before she featured in the U-14, U-16 teams for Bangladesh.

It was all going great for the talented footballer until she tore a ligament in 2014. Ever since, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) sidelined her out from all kind of football activities, informed Chathuima.

"When I got injured at the end of 2014, they [BFF] gave me Tk 2-3 thousand, told me to get good treatment with the money and sent me home. But at that time I needed way more money than that. So, I couldn't take the timely treatment. Later in 2016, I went through surgery after getting financial aid from Bangladesh Army and some kind individuals."

"However, still my leg injury is far from healed. I still can't walk well, can't climb the mountain," said Chathuima, who further said that the BFF officials did not keep track of her even once.

Financial stability-wise, Chathuima fell into a slippery slope since injury. 

"There was no shortage of money when I played. My family was under a lot of financial trouble following injury. In 2018, I managed a job at a shoe factory," informed Chathuima, while adding that her Tk 9,000 salary is barely enough as her family -- involving 60-plus aged parents and a younger sister -- is heavily dependent on her earnings.

Asked about Chathuima not availing rehabilitation assistance, Golam Rabbani Choton, head coach of the SAFF Championship-winning women's team, told The Daily Star: "Chathuima had potential. Unfortunately, we did not have the scope to provide her the necessary treatment at the time since that was the starting period of women's football in Bangladesh.

"But over the years, we provided Tk 16 lakhs for four players' ligament surgeries, including Swapna's [SAFF-winning team's striker]," coach Choton added.

Chathuima still wants to play though but is not convinced whether the evolved scenario in women's football in Bangladesh can give her the backing this time.

"I don't care about injuries, I want to play again but if I get hurt again, who will take care of me? Now I'm afraid to go on the field," Chathuima said.